You may define dry skin as scaling or flaking which may either be itchy or not – when there is no inflammation of the skin or any evidence of dermatitis. Sometimes flaking may be a sign of a more serious condition such as dermatitis which is also referred to as eczema. In this article we shall look at different types of dermatitis which may include signs such as itching and flaking of the skin. These may include the following:

Seborrheic dermatitis

This type is characterized by a red, scaly, itchy rash on various areas of the body, particularly those areas that contain many oil glands. Seborrheic dermatitis can occur as scaling on the scalp, eyebrows and sides of the nose.

Allergic contact dermatitis

This will most likely occur when the skin comes into contact with a substance that causes an immune reaction, such as poison ivy. Allergic contact dermatitis of the hands often causes scaling on the fingers.

Atopic dermatitis

This is a long-lasting type of dermatitis that often runs in families. It also may cause excessively dry, itchy skin.

Athlete’s foot

In many cases, athlete’s foot shows up as dry flaking on the soles of the feet.

There are times when dry skin is not necessarily caused by dermatitis and is will most likely occur on the shins, hands and sides of the abdomen and they are most common in winter months when humidity is low. It is also possible that some people have a genetic or hereditary tendency towards developing dry skin. In addition, elderly people tend to have more trouble with dry skin due to the natural changes in skin that occur with age. Treatment is important because extensively dry skin can lead to dermatitis, or eczema. Dry skin may be prevented or treated by:

Taking lukewarm baths or showers

The showers may need to be limited to between 5 to 10 minutes and applying moisturizers immediately after drying off from the shower or washing of hands. You may also need to use moisturizing body soap and hand soap as well. When it comes to using ointments it is advisable to use heavier creams and ointments during winter months and lighter ones in the summer.

Woman applying suncream

Sun protection

The sun emits dangerous ultra violet radiation and so it is important to protect your skin. Over time, UVR exposure causes many changes in the skin, including wrinkles, discoloration, freckles or age spots, benign (non-cancerous) growths, and pre-cancerous or cancerous areas. In fact, most skin cancers are related to sun exposure. There are two main subtypes of ultra violet radiation: UVB and UVA. UVB rays are responsible for sunburns and tanning. UVA rays are believed to be responsible for photo aging–the damage that occurs to the skin from many years of exposure to the sun–and possibly for promoting cancer. Most sunscreen products available in the past were developed to prevent sunburns by blocking UVB rays. Fewer sunscreen products have been equally successful in blocking UVA rays. For that reason, sun protection recommendations emphasize certain behaviors, as well as the use of sunscreens. The recommendations include:

• Avoiding midday sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m
• Wearing wide-brimmed hats, long sleeved shirts and pants
• Using a generous amount of sunscreen and reapplying it frequently (every 2-3 hours)
• Using sunscreens that have a sun protection factor (SPF) greater than 15, and that have UVA and UVB coverage
• Avoiding tanning beds

Facial skin care for acne-prone skin

For those people who are prone to acne it is important to choose a cleanser that is specially formulated for acne which can also help to clear acne sores. Clean your face gently, as trauma to the acne breakouts may worsen the acne or cause scarring. Try to minimize your use of facial moisturizers. If you need to use a moisturizer, use only light, non-comedogenic moisturizers, which do not aggravate acne. Also, women should use an oil-free foundation, as heavy makeup or other cosmetic products that block pores may cause a flare-up of acne.

Facial skin care for mature skin

Sometimes because of the effect of age on the skin the following signs are likely to appear: Roughness, wrinkling, irregular pigmentation, in-elasticity, enlarged sebaceous (oil) glands, precancerous and cancerous lesions. Sunscreens and sun protection are important to prevent further progression of photo aging. Furthermore, smoking has been shown to accelerate aging of skin, so stopping smoking is important for good skin health. In addition, a well-balanced diet–with or without a multivitamin–helps the skin get the nutrition it needs to help repair ongoing damage from the sun and other environmental elements.

Many topical non-prescription and prescription products are currently available for anti-aging purposes. With a good research you will be able to find good products that will also improve skin texture and color when used over an extended period of time. Some good products also exfoliate (removes a layer of skin cells) the skin, helps even out pigmentation and minimizes fine lines. Many people can benefit from using these or related products at bedtime followed by a cream or lotion containing glycolic acid and using a sunscreen in the morning.

Side effects of topical prescriptions such may include redness, peeling, tightness and swelling. You may be able to minimize these side effects by initially using them every other night and then–over the first month–gradually increasing the frequency to nightly. Some of them also make the skin more sensitive to ultraviolet rays from the sun. Therefore, a broad-spectrum sunscreen must be used in the morning.

Over-the-counter products containing alpha hydroxyl acids (glycolic, lactic, tartaric and citric acids) have become increasingly popular over the last five years. Creams and lotions with AHA may help with fine lines, irregular pigmentation and age spots, and may help decrease enlarged pores. Side effects of AHAs include mild irritation and sun sensitivity. For that reason, sunscreen also should be used every morning.